2013 NHL Draft Rankings – War Room June Edition – Round 3

This is the second of four posts highlighting the top 120 prospects for this year’s entry draft in June in Newark, New Jersey – the 2013 NHL Draft Rankings: War Room June Edition.

As with round four, there has been minimal movement from last month’s edition as most of the season was already over last month.

Spencer Martin will be on many teams’ radar come late June. (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Spencer Martin, Mississauga,OHL – Moved up to second round as I feel there will be at least three goalies taken in round 2. I would have moved up Philippe Desrosiers as well but couldn’t find anyone else that I felt comfortable relegating.

Keaton Thompson, USA NDTP, USHL – Moved down to 79 from 73. I believe Keaton suffers from the same confidence crisis that Yannick Weber does for the Montreal Canadiens. When Yannick is confident, he is a decent NHL defenseman in spite of his size. However, when he is not, things can get ugly very quickly. For Keaton, things got very ugly at the U18’s – his play was nowhere near up to his previous body of work during the year and the USA coach had to glue him to the bench for periods at a time. Will Keaton be cured of this confidence crisis? It would also help for him to add some weight and strength.

The writers at THW have been incredibly prolific in producing prospect profiles in The Next Ones format during the last month. At last count, they had over 80 up and are adding more daily.

I have tried to link current prospect write-ups as well as those from other writers to give you as wide and as complete a view as possible on each prospect. In addition, I have added quotes from scouts, prospects and writers (including some of my previous commentary from throughout the season) to give you a quick look at a prospect. To top it off, I have also added:

Statistics from EliteProspects.com. These stats automatically update so they will always be current.

Hashtags – One Name or Phrase to quickly identify a prospect.

Enjoy and hopefully your team will come out of New Jersey with some shiny new prospects.

Historic Success Rate

Some of these guys will turn out as planned but historically only about 24% or 7 players from below will make it as full time NHLers.

Quote: Team Canada U18 Assistant Coach, Jody Hull @ TheGlobeandMail.com, “He was awesome. He was awesome early when they were coming at us, I think at one point it was 6-0 or 7-0 on shots on net. He was very solid and calming influence back there for us. He gave us the opportunity to get the big victory today.”

Quote: By Brendan Ross @ THW, “Wheat Kings’ Eric Roy fits the prototype of a typical WHL defenseman as he possess the ruggedness we’ve come to like from these Western boys but Roy’s game runs much deeper than just fighting and hitting. The Saskatchewan native is rounding out his game under Coach Cory Clouston and is continually looking to improve defensively.”

Quote: Ryan Kennedy @ TheHockeyNews.com, “Sweden went undefeated at the under-20 Four Nations this weekend and Arnesson was the top defenseman. A sturdy shutdown blueliner, the youngster also showed off what he can do in the offensive end, tallying three points in three games to lead the tourney in scoring from the back end.”

Quote: Ryan English @ TheScoutingReport.org, “He has a good stride, is quite agile and plays a smart two-way game positionally. Sorensen is a natural finisher with a knack in front of the net, and seems like the type of player that will only rise with a full seasons worth of exposure to scouts.”

Quote 1: Central Scouting’s BJ MacDonald at NHL.com, “He’s sort of one of those players that you might classify him as sneaky-good. His skating is a little odd, but he always gets to the right spot. He’s really tough on the puck, he really stays on the puck and he goes to the net. He has very quick hands, very good hands. He knows how to make a play. He can give and go. He’s the type of player that the better players he plays with, the better level he’ll go to.”

Quote 2: My Draft War Room comments from December, “Has that hockey instinct that you just can’t teach. Toss in a top-notch pair of hands, great skating and the willingness to go after the puck no matter where it is, and you may just have a hockey player there. Adapting well to the North American game in his first year in the Dub, he still needs to add weight and strength, and a little more physicality to his game. If he does, the 3rd round may just be back there in the distance.”

Quote 1: Rich Michalowski @ TheScoutingReport.org, “The Michigan recruit packs loads of potential into his large frame. His strength is in his ability to move the puck quickly and accurately whether it’s to a quick moving forward through the neutral zone or a soft pass left behind the net for his defensive partner while being pursued by a forechecker. Downing sees the ice and is very good at anticipating the play and chooses the right option. He is so quick in transitioning and reading the play that he sometimes executes before his teammates are ready. He should have no trouble in this regard as he advances in his career.”

Quote 2: My Draft War Room comments from December, “Offensive defenseman with good mobility and can throw the big hit too. Solid defensively with an active stick but needs to work on his strength and physicality to be all he can be. Captain of TeamUSA at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Tournament.”

Quote 1: Lucas Wallmark @ TheHockeyNews.com, “Power play is my biggest strength. I can play on the penalty kill too, but the power play is my best; I’m a playmaker.”

Quote 2: From TheScoutingReport.org’s March rankings, “Slight centre doesn’t possess great size but has developed nicely this year… Seen time with Skelleftea in the Elitserien… Vision and playmaking ability is intriguing and he possesses a high skill level and upside at this point in the draft.”

Quote: Early in the season @ THW Combine, “I saw a poised, mature defender of modest stature play a professional type of two-way game. Everything was smooth; his skating, his breakout passes, his ability to move the puck up ice, his skill in keeping defenders at bay. Košťálek looks like a reliable 20 year-old defender playing in the CHL waiting for the NHL to finally get its act together. In fact, the only thing that wasn’t smooth was his bunker buster hits which caused the building to shake a bit.”

Quote: Former Severstal Coach, Andrei Nazarov @ IIHF.com, “Buchnevich had a good season, but it was not excellent. He had a great desire to go on ice, but he didn’t work enough for it in training. Desire is not enough to start playing. Let’s hope that Pavel will understand it. I think that he has to play better than (Valeri) Nichushkin.”

70. Olofsson, Gustaf

Commit:ColoradoCollege. Younger brother, Frederik has committed to the Tigers as well.

Other rankings: NHL 69, Bob MacKenzie HM (61 to 70), Chris Ralph 87

Twitter A/C:@golofsson94

Quote1 :Colorado Thunderbirds Director of Hockey Operations, Angelo Ricci @ Colorado Rubber Hockey, “Gustav has developed into a very special player. The scary thing is that his potential is unlimited and I truly believe CC (Colorado College) felt the same way. He possesses great patience with the puck, his first pass is tape-to-tape and he’s a terrific 1-on-1 defender. CC is very fortunate to be getting such a terrific student athlete.”

Quote 2: Bill Meltzer at HockeyBuzz.com. “The Swedish-born defenseman has been playing in North America for the last three seasons, and is coming off an excellent USHL campaign for the Green Bay Gamblers. Above-average mobility, poise with the puck and two-way potential with some power play upside are his main calling cards. He still needs to improve his physical play but will not get pushed around. He has committed to Colorado College.”

Quote: Bill Meltzer at HockeyBuzz.com, “Smart player with character and leadership capabilities. He is creative off-the-rush but keeps it simple when the play settles in the other team’s zone. Two-way winger that plays with his heart on his sleeve.”

Quote 1: Bill Kellett @ DobberSports.com, “Wheaton is one of those defensemen that is doing his job best when you don’t notice him out there. Wheaton finished with an impressive plus-20 this year and rarely makes bad decisions on the ice. His decision making ability and on ice vision has been compared to that of Chris Tanev of the Vancouver Canucks. Wheaton is a late bloomer who was a 10th round pick by the Kelowna Rockets but his play this year has made them look like geniuses as he was an integral part of the success the franchise this season. Wheaton is a huge body and is not afraid to throw it around. Not an offensive guy by any means but Wheaton plays his defensive role very well.”

Quote 2: My Draft War Room comments from December, “Mitchell Wheaton is that big boy stay-at-home type of defenseman that has a place on most NHL clubs. Plays the physical game like a big boy should plus has the defensive strategy to use it effectively. Decent skater with a good first pass with a limited offensive upside on a team known for grooming NHL defensemen.”

Profile: Guillaume Gervais at RDS.ca. Use Google translate for English.

Quote 1: From MomentumHockey.com,“The creative playmaker (Poirier) with soft hands and top speed second gear had 89 % of his points at even strength or on the Penalty Kill after Christmas. Poirier saw his status skyrocket in the second half of the season and was also one of the main reasons why the No. 13 seeded Gatineau Olympiques defeated the No. 4 seeded Rimouski Oceanic in the first round of the QMJHL Playoffs. Poirier had 10 points in 10 playoffs games, including 6 goals, and earned the first star of the game three times during that stretch. His very competitive nature, combined with his offensive instincts, gave him the chance to double his number of goals from last season and he just does lots of things NHL scouts like for an offensive forward.”

Quote 2: My Draft War Room comments from December, “Great hands, nice agility, reasonable size, and willing to drop the gloves. Emile is one of the mainstays on a not very good hockey club, the Gatineau Olympiques. I am inGatineau this week so I plan to see him live later in the week.”

Quote: From Myles Bell at Canada.com, “So they threw me up front and it seemed to work out,” says the Redwood Meadows product, who, at plus-46, was seventh in the WHL in that category. “I didn’t resist at all. When someone says, ‘Hey, go score some goals,’ you don’t really say no. I was always a fairly offensive defenceman and kind of nonchalant in my D zone, so it was a good move for me.”

Quote 1: Director of NHL Central Scouting, Dan Marr @ ViseSports.com, “Matt Buckles plays a power forward game. He’s a very effective offensive player when utilizing a size/strength game to the net and is a proven scorer. Matt has an NHL calibre shot and great finishing ability.”

Quote: NHL Western Conference Scout @ TheNewEnglandHockeyJournal.com, “Ryan Fitzgerald is a skilled player with speed, vision, quick hands and an accurate shot. He moves the puck well in the offensive zone. He has high-end hockey sense. Despite his lack of size, he is effective physically and not afraid to battle in the corners. He has a feisty side to his game.”

Quote: Ryan English @ TheScouting Report.org, “Roy plays 1st line, 1st powerplay and 2nd PK minutes for a deep Armada team with coach Jean-Francois Houle, who is very strict with regards to compete level and defensive play. That alone tells you alot about Roy as a prospect. Roy has a quick, tidy stride and has great agility and footwork. He competes on the boards despite being undersized and is very dangerous on the rush offensively.”

Quote: By Russ Bitely @ DobberSports.com, “The US NTDP-18 defenseman is mobile and defends opponents efficiently. He is not overly physically though but he skates well. He is good at pushing the puck up ice although will likely not provide high-end offensive output. He will be off to North Dakota (WCHA) next season.”

Quote: Halifax Mooseheads Coach, Dominique Ducharme@ Yahoo.com, “He had a great season. There were little details in his game. He had the Junior A habits a little bit where he would sometimes take too much time with the puck or his execution or reaction would be a little bit slow. He really adapted well. It took a little bit of time. He really improved on everything else — his skating, his positioning.”

Quote 1: Dominic Tiano @ InTheRadio.com, “Moutrey is already close to having NHL size and he uses it effectively. He doesn’t possess blazing speed but is a very effective north and south skater. He has a very high hockey IQ and an excellent passer. He’s not afraid of the dirty areas, boards, in front of the net or going in on the forecheck.”

Quote 2: My Draft War Room comments from December, “A good-sized power forward with a decent skillset who started out slowly but appears to be gaining steam. Looks like a future NHLer as his size along with his skating, puck handling, hockey IQ and willingness to play physical are attributes in strong demand in the bigs. If he is given a few more offensive opportunities, I think you will see the results expected of someone with a future bound for the NHL.”

Quote: Brock Otten at OHLProspects.Blogspot.ca, “When he’s on, he’s the complete package. He’s got size, speed, puck skill, two-way awareness, and physicality. He can be a beast. It’s about simplifying his game at times, and looking to create more with his size, rather than trying to be fancy or over think with the puck. He’s also got to work harder, more consistently, to get himself into scoring position.”

Quote: My Draft War Room comments from March, “He’s back; not high-end but a warrior out there – the guy every team wants on their side. It is no coincidence that the Remparts have looked more like a team and have performed better since his return. This was Kurt’s second major injury so that may have an impact on where he is picked.”

Quote: From TheScoutingReport.org, “Motte is a very good skater and utilizes his quick feet to make up for a lack of size and strength. A wide base and great puck possession are assets to his game that help create space for Motte against larger players. Offensively, Motte’s heavy shot is his main asset as the winger is a fairly prolific scorer. Hockey sense, however, is a concern for Motte as he can be uninvolved at times, which really neutralizes his impact on a game.”

Quote: Seattle Thunderbirds Coach, Steve Konowalchuk, @ TheSeattleTimes.com, “He definitely has an NHL shot, one that’s accurate and hard. He’s strong on the puck and has a strong trunk. The determining factor for him is whether he is willing to do all the little things more than scoring goals, like blocking shots and finishing checks. I had to remind him a couple of times this season, but he has shown he is willing to be a complete player. There will be a lot of eyes on him.”

Quote:Bill Placzek @ DraftSite.com, “Thick centre-forward who plays an excellent two-way game with smarts and good vision. Strong on the puck and solid on his skates he is an excellent wall player in the cycle who shows offensive upside.”

Quote 1:Kyle Woodlief @ USAToday.com, “Every time we go in to see Anthony Mantha play, we come out wondering who this Dunn kid is. Now we know.”

Quote 2: My Draft War Room comments from December, “He has that fiery, vocal character and on-ice intensity that makes you believe you have a true ice warrior out there. Gritty, good down low, will take on all comers, irritating to the point of inducing hatred in his opponents. Improving his shot and the ability to put up points and suddenly you have one of the mainstays of the attack. In short, he is a pest who puts up points and can be successful despite his modest dimensions.”

Quote 1: Russ Bitely @ DobberHockey.com, “He skates well as he has the lower center of gravity being 5’7” 165lbs., though not overly explosive in his stride. He possesses nice stick skills, can be a playmaker, and holds good hockey sense too. The big knock as mentioned will be his size and strength, and if he will be able to handle the big bodies and physicality of the North American pro ranks.”

Quote 2: My Draft War Room comments from December, “Smallish, Finnish, finisher. Has the skills, scoring and playmaking with the hard work and vision to make the most of them. So far the results are there but whether they will translate to theNorth America game is still a question mark.”

Quote: Ryan English @ TheScoutingReport.org, “A very solid two way defender, Murphy is the type of player that you wish you never had to take off the ice. He’s a great defender but he can also chip in offensively with his plus shot and poise. It seems like he never makes a mistake. He can make a solid outlet pass but he’s also not afraid to rush it up the ice himself. He plays with a lot of confidence for a 17 year old but when you see him play, you can see why. He has the speed to keep up with the best forwards in the league and the hockey sense to out play them.”

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